Bishop shares personal journey to ministry

By BY BISHOP DAVE THOMAS Jesus Holy Temple

Published: 2011.12.22 12:00 AM

Who is Bishop Dave Thomas? He is a first man of God. He is a husband and a father. At the tender age of 8 years old, he was baptized at Anderson Road Baptist Church. The call of God was on his life even at that age. However, Bishop Dave Thomas chose to take the long way before accepting his calling. He decided to first choose the world and all that he thought it had to offer him. He continued to attend church but he was not committed.

By dabbling into the world, he ended up having a way of life of drugs and alcohol most of his life. At the age of 7, Bishop Dave Thomas started smoking marijuana and drinking. He continued his lifestyle all the way through school. This rough lifestyle finally caught up with him. At 17 he was going to jail and looking at 2-10 years in the Texas State Penitentiary. God’s calling was still on his life. God had other plans for him. Bishop Dave Thomas finally submitted to the Lord and a miracle happened for him; he was placed on 6 years probation. The Lord got him out of his jail sentence. Praise God!

Years later, after joining the Army, he moved to Fairbanks, God called Bishop Thomas out of the world, and told him now is the time. Bishop Thomas was attending the Church of God in Christ in Fairbanks under the leadership of Pastor James Hayes. Bishop Thomas was an active member of the church; he was in the powerful Lilly of the Valley Choir and part of the men’s choir. Bishop Thomas helped his spiritual mother during noon day prayer every day. One Sunday morning after returning from a military school, Bishop Thomas was awakened from sleep by the spirit of God and he was instantly given the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Bishop Thomas was baptized for the second time with water from the United Pentecostal Church in Jesus name. First Lady Sondra Thomas came home one day in premature labor and had to be flown to Anchorage. The journey began. Bishop Dave Thomas served and studied under Dr. Alonzo Patterson for two and a half years. Bishop Thomas received his minister’s license under Dr. Alonzo Patterson.

Bishop Dave Thomas began to feel God’s tug him to step out more into the ministry. Therefore, in June 2003, Bishop Dave Thomas opened Jesus Holy Temple Apostolic Church in the 56th Episcopal District of Alaska. During this time, Bishop Dave Thomas was under the guidance of Bishop Thomas Davis.

Bishop Dave Thomas attended the Aenon Bible College for his ordination and other theological studies. Aenon is under the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. During this time, he also wrote a monthly newsletter called The Apostolic Fire.

While attending Bible College, Bishop Dave Thomas was blessed to be ordained by John Hilton. Bishop John Hilton was the pastor of Faith, Hope, and Love: it was a Non-Denominational church. After Bishop Hilton left Alaska, Bishop Dave Thomas was again elevated by God. He moved out from under the apostolic denomination and became the founder of Jesus Holy Temple church. This is a non-denominational church. Bishop Dave Thomas believes in the Great Commission.

Bishop Dave Thomas has been married to his lovely wife, First Lady Sondra Thomas for 18 years. The Lord has blessed their marriage with eight wonderful children and four grandchildren. Bishop Dave Thomas and his wife are not only busy building a church; they are also busy winning souls for the Lord. Their vision is Saving One Soul At A Time. Pray for the success of their vision!

This column is the opinion of Bishop Dave Thomas. He is affiliated with God’s Holy Temple and churches. Bishop Thomas has a Bachelor’s Degree from Kaplan University in Criminal Justice. The presiding Bishop is Bishop Randy Crenshaw of God’s Holy Temple church in Blytheville Arkansas.

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